Let’s take Kendama to the Olympic stage! Kendama is a game loved and enjoyed all over the world! To do this, we have to make 2018 Kendama World Cup even bigger and increase the number of competitors from around the world!

Let’s create more excitement by carrying out Kendama World Cup qualifiers in various countries! The players who win the preliminary rounds will be invited to participate in the World Cup! We can also raise the amount of prize money given to the winner!

To make this happen, I ask that everybody come together to help raise money to make 2018 Kendama World Cup even better and take it to the next stage. Thank you for your warm support! Let’s get hyped and make this happen!

Tamotsu Kubota

2018.2.16

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Let’s take Kendama to the Olympic stage! Kendama is a game loved and enjoyed all over the world! To do this, we have to make 2018 Kendama World Cup even bigger and increase the number of competitors from around the world!

Let’s create more excitement by carrying out Kendama World Cup qualifiers in various countries! The players who win the preliminary rounds will be invited to participate in the World Cup! We can also raise the amount of prize money given to the winner!

To make this happen, I ask that everybody come together to help raise money to make 2018 Kendama World Cup even better and take it to the next stage. Thank you for your warm support! Let’s get hyped and make this happen!

Tamotsu Kubota

2018.2.16

- Greetings -

I am Tamotsu Kubota, representing Global Kendama Network (GLOKEN) and planner and manager of Kendama World Cup. Thank you for visiting this page.

My dream of creating a world Kendama competition came true in 2014. In the birthplace of Kendama, Hatsukaichi City in Hiroshima, with the local executive committee and more than 100 players from 11 countries, we created Kendama World Cup. To our surprise, an American took home the championship. I think this is when the history of Kendama changed.

Since then, we have continued Kendama World Cup every year. Participants from a total of 24 countries have competed. In 2017, the first Japanese champion was born. I believe this competition has become the driving force behind the Kendama scene here in Japan and abroad.

I want more people in the world to try and enjoy Kendama. I aim to make it a part of the most influential sporting event: The Olympics! I believe now is the time to take Kendama to the next stage, so as one Kendama lover, I am asking my fellow Kendama lovers to take part in this crowdfunding project, to help boost Kendama to new heights.

-Aiming for the Olympics -

When I watched the Olympic and Paralympic games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, I was moved by the passion shown by each athlete.

Until then, I didn’t pay much attention to the Olympics, but things began to change after starting to organize international Kendama competitions.

Now I cannot stop imagining about the influence Kendama could have all over the world if it were to become an event at the Olympics and Paralympics.

･We show people the appeal of Kendama on a global scale, increasing the number of players and athletes.
· It will become a goal for Kendama players.
·Olympic athletes will inspire the next generation of players.
·The Kendama industry can share a common goal toward the Olympics.

And the list goes on. I began to talk about this dream with members of the Kendama community and have gotten a lot of support. I am delighted and proud that I have companions who share the same dreams and goals as I, and would like to move forward together.

- Next Stage Towards the Olympics -

We will create an even more exciting Kendama World Cup (KWC 2018) and it will send a message to the world saying that Kendama is fit for being an Olympic sport. I want more and more people to see this event.
There are various criteria to make an Olympic event and one is the number countries and continents represented by competitors. (Japan’s official website quotes more than 75 countries from four continents. (for male competition))

Currently, Kendama World Cup is an open event, but it is limited to players who are able to come to Japan on their own.

I feel that it is necessary to create qualifying competitions on each continent, creating an environment where players can freely and openly compete. But since not everybody is familiar with Kendama, I would like to visit various places to boost Kendama on a truly global scale.

Also, I believe that raising prize money is also important in making a sustainable sports event. It will create hype -> Increase sponsors in the future -> Increase the number of people who can make a living off Kendama -> Inspire children. I think it will create a spiral which will create more players around the world.

Through Kendama, we wish to help create a society in which everybody has more fun in their daily lives. I want to share Kendama to the world!

2017 Kendama World Cup Finalists

Reason for Support

To successfully manage this competition, we have received support from many sponsors and administrators, tourist associations, chambers of commerce and industry, timber union, etc. in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima. I truly appreciate these sponsors for helping this international competition survive for 4 years.

However, this year marks the 5th one, and to make this event bigger and help kick off a worldwide Kendama movement, I need support from Kendama fans more than ever. Thank you very much.

The venue filled with kendama fans

Overseas players who decide high difficulty tricks in the final stage

- The support money will be part of the management fund of the Kendama World Cup Hatsukaichi 2018 -

･ We would like to hold qualifying competitions for domestic and international seeds!
For KWC 2018, we have decided to seed the winner of the largest Kendama tournament in North America (MKO 2017).
We are planning to hold preliminary contests in Europe, Asia, and also in Japan, and would like the winners to be seeded players.
There are players around the world who want to come to Hiroshima but have difficulty. We believe that anybody should have the opportunity to compete if they win the preliminaries. We believe that it is necessary to create more opportunities for players in order to decide the world’s best.

· I want to invite contestants from five continents of the world!
There are no participants from the African continent so far. Also, in South America the Kendama population is very limited.
Of course, the recognition of Kendama is very low, and it is difficult for people to even get one due to financial reasons.

I would like to visit South American and Africa to hold Kendama workshops and conferences. I want to invite someone who will be the key to developing Kendama culture.

· Raise the winning prize to 2 million yen! (About 3 times more than last year)!

I think increasing prize money (total sum) is also important in making a sustainable sports event.

Not only does it have short-term effects on winners and finalists this year, but it will create hype -> Increase sponsors in the future -> Increase the number of people who can make a living off Kendama -> Inspire children.

- To All Kendama LOVERS -

Thank you so much for coming to events held by GLOKEN, including the Kendama World Cup, and for your various forms of support and cooperation.

If I may share a personal story, I love Kendama, it’s fun and I have been doing it for a very long time. Before I knew it, it began to catch on worldwide, and now I have friends across the globe.

It may just be simply playing with a Kendama, but the Kendama has allowed me to have unforeseen experiences, taken me to places I had never imagined, and let me meet and befriend people from around the world who I likely never would have met otherwise.

It is fun to play on your own, and also when gathered together with friends, I always feel as though it is a toy that enriches my life.

・I want to make the Kendama more popular worldwide.
・I want to hold an event to crown the Kendama World Champion.

I think these were the things (environment) that I wanted when I first started the Kendama.
I don’t believe I would have thought this way if I was in the current environment, as there are already people in various places around the world playing with Kendama, and there is a tournament to decide the best in the world.

I constantly feel happy that the Kendama scene has taken off, and at the same time, feel that we can go even further.

While I think that there is an enjoyment hidden within the Kendama that cannot be summed up by words such as "trend" or "fad", it is nevertheless also influenced by these waves.
If you trace back the history of the Kendama, you will find that, in the past, it has repeatedly seen gains and declines in popularity in France (a similar toy known as a “bilboquet”), Japan, and several other countries. The Kendama will always remain a great toy to play with individually. However, in addition to that, I wish to create a “system” for the next generation by which, as with other sports, it can continue to be enjoyed by many people, so that 100 years from now, 1000 years from now, there will still be people enjoying the Kendama.

One form of this is to hold a World Tournament and to aim to have the Kendama become an Olympic sport.

I would love to have the entire Kendama world, all the Kendama enthusiasts, get excited and say, “This isn't all that Kendama is!”

- Profile -

Tamotsu Kubota
Board of Directors Spokesperson for the Global Kendamas Network Foundation.
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1981 and graduated from the Biological Science Department at Hiroshima University.
University/Former member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (Mozambique, Science and Mathematics Teacher)

I began to seriously play Kendama around the year 2000, and in 2003, set a new world record for continuous time performing the “moshikame” trick (at the time, 8 continuous hours).
Established the Global Kendamas Network Foundation in 2012.
Through activities such as hosting the Kendama World Cup, and presiding over the world rankings, he has joined hands with the world’s Kendama players to make efforts to popularize the Kendama and invigorate the community through the concept of “connecting the world through Kendama”.
In 2017 he established May 14th as “Kendama Day”, and at the commemoratory event achieved a new Guinness World Record™.
A father of two, he is also a researcher of the history of the Kendama, and author of the book “Kendama-gaku” (Imajinsha Publishers).

(Connecting the World Through Kendama)

The Global Kendamas Network Foundation (GLOKEN) aims to create a society filled with “fun!” in people’s daily lives, and since its inception in 2012 has promoted the expansion of the global Kendama community and efforts towards making Kendama a sport through various activities such as the hosting of the Kendama World Cup.
Through sending Japan’s Kendama out as “KENDAMA”, experience-based content that we are proud of in the world, we seek to have Kendama made an Olympic event while contributing to international goodwill, regional revitalization, and inbound reinvigoration, caring for the Kendama network on a global scale, and working to create an environment where the Kendama can be enjoyed.

-Why I Created GLOKEN -

I began seriously playing with the Kendama around the year 2000 when I was in my first year of university. Due to injury, I had quit Judo, which I had been practicing up until that point, and while I was commuting to the hospital daily for rehabilitation, I picked up a Kendama.
I had liked the Kendama when I was in elementary school, but after not having played with one in so long, I was completely unable to do it. I was dismayed. But, through practice, I was able to do it again, so I practiced for many hours.
Thinking of something as “fun!” was like a faint light for me during those difficult days, and, thinking that I wanted to get better, I practiced every single day.

On the other hand, at that time the “Kendama” was nothing but an ancient game, an old-fashioned toy at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from being “cool”.
I wanted to spread the appeal of the Kendama, which is fun, deep, and has limitless play options.
I wanted to change the Kendama’s image.
With that in mind, I began to actively pursue activities to promote the Kendama.

Thinking that I wanted to spread the Kendama to the world, and one day in the future hold a World Tournament, I traveled to Mongolia while I was in university, and after graduation to Mozambique, where I was on assignment as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and conducted activities to popularize the Kendama.
Meanwhile, I felt as though, from around 2007–2008, the Kendama had gradually begun to spread to America and European countries through video sites and social media services.
In particular, what shocked me was when, in around 2010, a professional team was created in America, and they held an event called “Dama Fest”. They were shown performing tricks the likes of which I had never seen before, amidst the echoing music of a DJ and the cheers of children. The children could be seen lining up to get autographs from the pros.
I was shocked by the difference in atmosphere between this and the tournaments held in Japan. There is something nice about the way Japan does it too, but the fact that Japan, the birthplace of the Kendama, was completely falling behind in terms of how they specialized in conveying their enjoyment, the evolution of techniques, how cool it was, etc., was at once disheartening, and at the same time made me envious of how they seemed to truly be enjoying Kendama.

I want to become friends with a foreign Kendama player, and I want to play Kendama together. When I thought about how fun it would be, should that become a reality, I was overwhelmed with excitement.

With that excitement, I formed GLOKEN in 2012, and continued holding the Kendama World Cup, etc.

My next dream is to have Kendama become an Olympic sport.
I want to make this a reality alongside all my friends around the world who share my dream!

- Reference -
Number of Participating Countries/Participants in Previous Kendama World Cups

(Estimated Number of Participants)
・Number of people entering the tournament: Approximately 500 kendama players from Japan and abroad. (It is thought around 150 players from 20 countries and regions will participate.)
・Visitors and spectators: Approximately 50,000. (Over 2 days, it is thought that the audience numbers will be similar to the previous year.)

The “Sun Moon Ball”, thought to be the original form of the modern kendama, was created in 1918 by Mr. Hamaji Egusa, who hailed from Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture.
After that, he visited Hatsukaichi, a city thriving due to its woodworking, and went to the Hongo Woodworking Manufacturing Factory (currently Hongo Inc.), wherein 1920, production of the kendama began. The kendama would go on to spread across the entire country.

As the “Birthplace of the Kendama”, Hatsukaichi City has used the kendama as a way to attract tourists, creating a monument to the kendama, passing on kendama manufacturing techniques, and training craftsmen.
An executive committee comprised of the Hatsukaichi administration, various groups from the Hatsukaichi wood industry, the chamber of commerce, and the tourism association was formed, and along with the Global Kendamas Network Foundation, will manage this year’s Kendama World Cup.

387 people participated in the Kendama World Cup 2017

Preliminary round will be done with 3 people

Do your best within the 3 minute time limit

Players are constent supporters of one another

- Competition Rules -

Every year, we distribute 120 tricks into 12 levels of 10 tricks each for the Kendama World Cup.

As tricks are evolving every day, we update the trick list every year incorporating new techniques and trends while keeping some standard tricks. The finals are strictly judged and scored with video replays.

To be sure you don't miss a single movement, we will judge with 4 video cameras

Sun Moon Ball which is regarded as the prototype of the current kendama

Every year it's recognized by the world media

Connecting the world by kendamas

＜In Conclusion＞

Not even 100 years have passed since the Kendama took on its current form.
Only around 10 years have passed since the Kendama began to spread across the world.
It is such a new game and industry, yet, especially in these past few years, it is spreading at an accelerated rate.

The Global Kendamas Network Foundation was established in 2012, and from 2014 on, every year the Kendama World Cup has been held in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, thought to be the birthplace of the Kendama. We were also able to start a Kendama world ranking system from 2016.
By creating a system that gives players across the globe a fair chance, I hope that the community becomes more active.
I am happy that, through these sorts of activities, we are, one at a time, making our role as the center of the network a reality, as was envisioned when GLOKEN was created.

The next step is aiming to get Kendama into the Olympics. I believe, if we can do that, we can further convey the fun of Kendama, inspire the next generation, and share our fun with even more people.

As with other sports, Kendama is truly great for people of any age, gender, or nationality, and those who speak any language, to transcend their background and have fun together.
It is also worth noting that everyone from the most casual player to players who compete and, as a sport, and aim to be the best in the world, can praise each other, interact and play fairly with the joy of saying “I did it!”.

I believe that activities to spread the joy of Kendama are surely the same as creating a better world. I appreciate your support and cooperation. Thank you very much.

Mauricio Sant Anna

Monday May 7th, 2018 01:40 AM

Tamotsu is a really nice, kind guy, he loves Kendama. he makes his life the impossible to bring kendama to the whole planet.
I met him, I saw the love he has for kendama and I’m going to pray for everyone. Tamostu has an open mind and a very interesting worldview, someone with whom one can talk quietly about various subjects, and you can see that the guy is very good and has a great purpose in life!
Certainly a friendship was born.
Tamotsu, thank you for encouraging the practice of the sport and spread your love.
see you later

Hiroyasu

Hiroyasu

Ben

Wednesday May 9th, 2018 03:51 AM

Hello Gloken super guys and girls!
Your project is very cool and we appreciate to support the KWC 2018!
We hope that you collect all the needed money to make it happen!
We three really would like to attend the KWC as guests and fortunately we will be around in Japan during summer!

Please let us know how to get some tickets or don’t we have to pay entrance any fees?

Tamotsu Kubota
Board of Directors Spokesperson for the Global Kendamas Network Foundation
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1981 and graduated from the Biological Science Department at Hiroshima University. Former member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (Mozambique, Science and Mathematics Teacher)

I began to seriously play kendama around the year 2000, and in 2003, set a new world record for continuous time performing the “moshikame” trick (at the time, 8 continuous hours).
Established the Global Kendamas Network Foundation in 2012.
Through activities such as hosting the Kendama World Cup, and presiding over the world rankings, he has joined hands with the world’s kendama players to make efforts to popularize the kendama and invigorate the community through the concept of “connecting the world through kendama”.
In 2017 he established May 14th as “Kendama Day”, and at the commemoratory event achieved a new Guinness World Record™.
A father of two, he is also a researcher of the history of the kendama, and author of the book “Kendama-gaku” (Imajinsha Publishers).

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This is an All or Nothing project. This project will be funded if the amount of money raised exceeds its target amount.